New to the hybrid game (looking for multi/poly, poly/hybrid or shaped poly/poly recommendations)

[mattprot]

Hey there, I am a 5.0 NRTP player. My current racquet of choice is a PT57A 18x20, but I also use Head 360+ Prestige MP or Angell TC97/95 18x20. All that to say I am currently only using rather tighter 18x20 string pattern in 95/98inch racquets.

I have been using full bed of poly for now (usually Alu power RG edition or Maillot Savarez (soft poly from France) 1.25mm at around 24kgM/23kgC.

I have had some small issues with my right wrist but nothing big. So I am quite open to various recommendation, my main criteria would be control, durability, comfort and some extra power compare to poly FB in low powered racquet like my PT57A. On top of that, I'd like whatever set up I go with to be rather on the cheap side. Eliminating high end multi or natural gut from equation. I do not string often, I have not broken a string in over a year, but I usually restring my FB poly after 8/10 hours anyway.

I have tried to do my research on here and I have found a few options I'd like to explore :

For the shaped poly/poly :
- Lynx Tour / Hawk Power
- MSV Focus Hex (Ultra or 25Plus) / MSV Go Max or MSV Co-Focus

For the multi/poly :
- Head RIP Control / Alu Power or RS Lyon or Tour Bite
- Head Intellitour

For the poly/multi :
- Solinco Tour Bite / Solinco Vanquish
- Rs Lyon or Solinco Tour bite / Head RIP Control

I have made that list based on recommendation on this forum or thanks to the sets of strings I have at home. All are around 3 to 6/7 euros max for half a set. Trying to stay within that budget to get a final full set at no more than 15 euros if possible.

Would you have any advices on those options? Any other ideas or recommendations? And maybe a word of advice on gauge and tension that would be best. Not looking for exact recommendation but more general rules regarding Multi gauge vs Poly gauge, tension, to maximise durability, snap back and control.

Thanks!

 

[Winners or Errors]

Not a 5.0, more 4.2, but I do play with multi-/poly and synthetic/poly. FWIW, a smooth, firm poly cross with a livelier multi/synthetic works well and keeps the spin levels high. I use Prince Lightning Pro 16 and Tecnifibre Multi-Feel 16 Black as mains and like the performance of both. The cross I usually use is Kirschbaum Proline X 1.25 (now discontinued), with Tecnifibre Red Code 1.25 as a solid substitute. I like "crisp" feeling stringbeds, and both do that. Rip Control would be too muted for my tastes. The smooth poly crosses you have listed will do fine. Tour Bite will likely shred the multi.

Good luck.

 

[mattprot]

Good point regarding Tour Bite. In my head it was round shape but it seems to be squared shape. Is it fine to use a shaped poly in the mains if you go for a poly main / multi cross or would that also cause issue to the multi in the crosses?

Or is the shape of the poly on matters when it is paired with multi in the mains?

Do you have good enough durability with your multi/synthetic and poly hybrid? Do you usually just wait until it breaks?

Thanks!

 

[dr. godmode]

Good point regarding Tour Bite. In my head it was round shape but it seems to be squared shape. Is it fine to use a shaped poly in the mains if you go for a poly main / multi cross or would that also cause issue to the multi in the crosses?

Or is the shape of the poly on matters when it is paired with multi in the mains?

Do you have good enough durability with your multi/synthetic and poly hybrid? Do you usually just wait until it breaks?

Thanks!

I think the shape matters for both types of hybriding, though it's more important with nylon mains. I also don't necessarily think that the shape matters, but rather, the sharpness. For example, RPM Blast is shaped, but it's very round feeling and there aren't really any discernible edges, whereas Tourbite is noticeably sharp. Even some square strings, like Toroline Wasabi, are pretty smooth and have very rounded off corners, so I wouldn't be too concerns with shredding with something like that. There are also strings with a lot of sides, like Golden Set Snakebite, which is 7 sided, but is still quite sharp.

 

[mattprot]

Thanks for the explanation. Maybe I am a little bit pushing it then, but why is Solinco offering an hybrid set with Tour Bite/Vanquish if this is definitely a less than ideal set up in term of durability due to the sharp shaped poly? Am I missing something? But anyhow, your explanations does make sens and I might just keep Tour bite for a hybrid with another round poly instead!

Any ideas of good round or not sharp poly for hybrid with multi? Is RS Lyon a good one ? I guess if it is for going into crosses, you mainly want a cheap poly that would maintain tension well and not cut through the multi, is it right?

 

[Winners or Errors]

Thanks for the explanation. Maybe I am a little bit pushing it then, but why is Solinco offering an hybrid set with Tour Bite/Vanquish if this is definitely a less than ideal set up in term of durability due to the sharp shaped poly? Am I missing something? But anyhow, your explanations does make sens and I might just keep Tour bite for a hybrid with another round poly instead!

Any ideas of good round or not sharp poly for hybrid with multi? Is RS Lyon a good one ? I guess if it is for going into crosses, you mainly want a cheap poly that would maintain tension well and not cut through the multi, is it right?

RS Lyon would work fine as a cross. It pretty much fits the profile of every decent smooth poly cross. Have you looked at TW University's string comparison tool? They have measured a ton of strings and have data on things useful for hybriding, like string-to-string friction.

I suspect the Solinco hybrid offering is just marketing. IMHO, the best way to hybrid multi or synthetic gut with poly is to use a smooth poly cross.

My experience of poly main, multi-cross setups is that the poly ends up shredding the multi, which locks up the stringbed and defeats the purpose of getting the mains to slide properly. With multi or synthetic gut mains, I get the benefit of sliding properly throughout the life of the string job, while also getting the string to break prior to it going dead and wrecking my arm.

 

[mattprot]

I have not actually, I will go and look into that.

It does make sens, and I do think that I could enjoy a multi/poly hybrid. I am just a little scare to lose too much predictability and control compared to my full bed poly I use to do.

But I guess in a racquet like PT57A, you could use an extra bit of power. From your experience, do you have a recommendation for a multi that is not too far from gut, giving you comfort and power, but which does not make the string bed too erratic and unpredictable?

 

[Winners or Errors]

I have not actually, I will go and look into that.

It does make sens, and I do think that I could enjoy a multi/poly hybrid. I am just a little scare to lose too much predictability and control compared to my full bed poly I use to do.

But I guess in a racquet like PT57A, you could use an extra bit of power. From your experience, do you have a recommendation for a multi that is not too far from gut, giving you comfort and power, but which does not make the string bed too erratic and unpredictable?

Well, someone here will, but it's not me. I use Tecnifibre Multi-Feel 16 Black, because it is slick and crisp. Gut lovers usually like a softer feel. Someone will chime in, probably with a softer multi. That's not my cup of tea. I also like more control oriented setups. The hybrids I use are all about control and spin.

For what it's worth, the racquets I play most regularly are: Dunlop 4D100, Becker London Tour, Kneissl White Star Pro Masters, Wilson Six.One 16x18. The closest thing I have to a "power" stick in the regular line-up is the Wilson.

 

[jimmy8]

If you hybrid, you still have to restring every 8-10 hours.

I suggest hyper g 1.20 mains 21 kg, head velocity 1.30 natural color 23 kg.